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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Wireless Routers/print Servers
ALpowerbook - Aug 23, 2005 - 11:02 pm
I have a 15" powerbook G4 running OSX 10.4.2 and I am looking for a wireless router that also functions as a print server. I know Apple has two models that will work but I am looking for something else if at all possible. The router needs to support a USB printer and also needs to support windows as well as OSX since I share my connection with someone who has a PC. I have an HP PSC 1315 all in one printer. I've already tried the Belkin F5D7231-4P (it doesn't support wireless printing in OSX) and I also know that the D-Link DP-G321 won't work either. Again, I know the Apple one will work but I'd like to have 54 mbps transfer rate at a decent price with print server capabilities. Thanks.
gsahli - Aug 23, 2005 - 11:49 pm
Hi, I'm Greg, your Volunteer Tech.
Brent,
the real issue here is printer drivers. Manufacturers of non-postscript printers (except Brother recently) have so far refused to write drivers for the CUPS interface in OS X. Their drivers bypass CUPS, so the only comm protocol that works is what they wrote into the driver -- USB. This also applies to your PSC 1315. HP's driver isn't capable of anything but USB.
There are open source drivers that will work (in your case it has model 1310, not 1315, but I hear it works). Install hpijs and ESP ghostscript from:
http://www.linuxprinting.org/macosx/hpijs/
I think the two routers you tried/mentioned will actually work, but I strongly recommend against anything from D-link, because their Mac support policy is to just turn a deaf ear. Another difference between OS X and Windows is that you have to enter a print server queue name/port name when you set up for IP printing from OS X. This is because all the print server internals are designed to work with Windows, so Windows autodetects the queue name, but OS X can't.
About Airport Extreme/Express. Apple has tried to get around the network driver problem by using airport software to redirect the USB output to the print server USB port -- in other words, you actually use the USB driver to print over a network. And the print server emulates an HP jetdirect so Windows can print to it too. I don't recommend Extreme/Express right now, because Apple has introduced new bugs in Tiger that make it less reliable. (Hopefully that will be fixed soon, but who knows?)
Hope this helps.
Brent,
the real issue here is printer drivers. Manufacturers of non-postscript printers (except Brother recently) have so far refused to write drivers for the CUPS interface in OS X. Their drivers bypass CUPS, so the only comm protocol that works is what they wrote into the driver -- USB. This also applies to your PSC 1315. HP's driver isn't capable of anything but USB.
There are open source drivers that will work (in your case it has model 1310, not 1315, but I hear it works). Install hpijs and ESP ghostscript from:
http://www.linuxprinting.org/macosx/hpijs/
I think the two routers you tried/mentioned will actually work, but I strongly recommend against anything from D-link, because their Mac support policy is to just turn a deaf ear. Another difference between OS X and Windows is that you have to enter a print server queue name/port name when you set up for IP printing from OS X. This is because all the print server internals are designed to work with Windows, so Windows autodetects the queue name, but OS X can't.
About Airport Extreme/Express. Apple has tried to get around the network driver problem by using airport software to redirect the USB output to the print server USB port -- in other words, you actually use the USB driver to print over a network. And the print server emulates an HP jetdirect so Windows can print to it too. I don't recommend Extreme/Express right now, because Apple has introduced new bugs in Tiger that make it less reliable. (Hopefully that will be fixed soon, but who knows?)
Hope this helps.
ALpowerbook - Aug 24, 2005 - 12:08 am
Ok, I've installed those two but could you give me some advice on actually setting up the printer? I really appreciate it.
gsahli - Aug 24, 2005 - 7:45 am
Which print server/router & server are you going to try for this?
You need two pieces of info - The IP address of the print server and the queue name for the USB port. (some models have 3 ports, and the queue names are L1, L2, L3, for example.)
Then in Printer Setup, click ADD. In the browser window that comes up, click on IP printer. Choose LPR (LPD/LPR) in the next pull-down menu. Fill in the router or print server address, and enter the queue name. Now selet printer model. Finish and try it.
You need two pieces of info - The IP address of the print server and the queue name for the USB port. (some models have 3 ports, and the queue names are L1, L2, L3, for example.)
Then in Printer Setup, click ADD. In the browser window that comes up, click on IP printer. Choose LPR (LPD/LPR) in the next pull-down menu. Fill in the router or print server address, and enter the queue name. Now selet printer model. Finish and try it.
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